DHL appoints DDB to its 20m European account

Global express carrier DHL Worldwide Express has appointed the DDB network to its pan-European advertising account, estimated to be worth 20m.

The account, which will be run out of DDB Paris, has been held by Scholz & Friends in Hamburg for the past three years. DHL reportedly approached four other networks – TBWA, Leo Burnett, Young & Rubicam and Grey – as part of the review.

DHL’s European operation is based in Brussels. The company refused to comment as Marketing Week went to press.

It is unclear how DDB’s win affects Scholz & Friends and Mellors Reay & Partners, now owned by Grey Advertising, which handles DHL’s UK advertising. The brand’s UK campaigns are best known for the “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” signature tune, which was first used by DHL in 1985.

Last November, DHL International UK appointed David Coles, the former marketing director of supermarket chain Somerfield, as its UK managing director. He was due to take up his position on January 1 this year.

Coles replaced Nick Butcher, who takes on a regional director role within DHL, with responsibility for central and eastern Europe as well as the UK.

According to DHL figures for 1997, the company carried more than 100 million parcels and documents in 227 countries and territories for more than one million customers.